Key research areas at the Post-COVID Center

At the patients‘ first visit at the Post-COVID Center of the Erlangen University Hospital, the baseline measurement using online questionnaires (PROMs) is carried out in addition to neurocognitive testing and psychosomatic and internal medicine-immunological examinations. Patients receive an online follow-up survey approximately 3 months after their initial presentation. In addition to socio-demographic data, established validated questionnaires are used to collect information such as previous illnesses, the course of the acute COVID-19 infection, the type and effectiveness of therapies already carried out to treat post-COVID, symptoms of post-COVID syndrome (PCS), fatigue symptoms (FSS), symptoms of post-exertional malaise (PEM), sleep disorders (ISI), current health related quality of life (SF-12), coping with the disease (PUK) and satisfaction with the Post-COVID center. Furthermore, common indicators of mental and psychosomatic distress such as depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and the psychological burden of somatic complaints (PHQ-15) are recorded

. To assess neurocognitive impairments in Post-COVID, patients receive comprehensive neurocognitive testing on presentation at Post-COVID Center. As a contribution to the further understanding of neurocognitive impairment in Post-COVID, our research group has already published results on neurocognitive impairment in Post-COVID. In future publications, the relationship between psychological-psychosomatic, sociodemographic, medical and neurocognitive parameters will be investigated. Moreover, analyses of the long-term course and causal directions of effect of the corresponding constructs are planned.

Publications:

Morawa, Krehbiel, Borho, Herold, Lieb, Schug & Erim (2023): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37544160/

Reuner, Krehbiel, Rech, Greiner, Schäfer, Herold, Morawa & Erim (submitted): Utilization frequency and patient-reported effectiveness of symptomatic therapies in Post-COVID Syndrome

Schäfer, Krehbiel, Adler, Borho, Herold, Greiner, Reuner, Morawa & Erim (submitted): 22 months outcome of the Post-COVID Syndrome – a prospective study focusing mental health with patient reported outcome measures (PROMs)